My thoughts on Color Recovery from the UK

[spencerkarter85]

I've seen the pilot episode of the BBC's Are You Being Served? from 1972 (which color recovery was recently restored) on YouTube. Man, that's the first time I've seen this in color (or colour which the Brits spells). You know, Color recovery on British Television programs (programmes what Brits calls) from late 1960s til the mid 1970s at the time the British networks wiped videotapes or reused them (most of programs were in color) but some survived only in B&W kinescopes (or what the Brits calls Telerecordings). Also color recovery was done on B&W telerecording episodes of color programs from the UK like Dad's Army, and the cult classic Doctor Who which the latter was mostly from the early 1970s. This techique was made by Richard Russell.

If they have Color recovery here in the USA, I would restore B&W kinescopes of General Hospital(episodes orignialy aired from 1967-1977), it would be nice to see the 1967-75 GH opening and closing in color with blue background. What's My Line? (CBS run during it's final year and in color from 1966-67), As The World Turns (existed episodes from 1967-1975), Days of Our Lives (especially the early episodes exist only in B&W kinescopes from 1965-1966), Dark Shadows (August 1967-April 1971 onwards, but unfortunately they stopped making kinescopes in Fall 1970), One Life to Live (existed episodes from 1968-1975), American Bandstand (September 1967-Fall 1977 existed episodes), All My Children (early existed episodes from 1970-71), and old newscasts of The ABC Evening News (existed newscasts from late 1960s-1976).

 

[spencerkarter85]

I've seen the pilot episode of the BBC's Are You Being Served? from 1972 (which color recovery was recently restored) on YouTube. Man, that's the first time I've seen this in color (or colour which the Brits spells). You know, Color recovery on British Television programs (programmes what Brits calls) from late 1960s til the mid 1970s at the time the British networks wiped videotapes or reused them (most of programs were in color) but some survived only in B&W kinescopes (or what the Brits calls Telerecordings). Also color recovery was done on B&W telerecording episodes of color programs from the UK like Dad's Army, and the cult classic Doctor Who which the latter was mostly from the early 1970s. This techique was made by Richard Russell.

If they have Color recovery here in the USA, I would restore B&W kinescopes of General Hospital(episodes orignialy aired from 1967-1977), it would be nice to see the 1967-75 GH opening and closing in color with blue background. What's My Line? (CBS run during it's final year and in color from 1966-67), As The World Turns (existed episodes from 1967-1975), Days of Our Lives (especially the early episodes exist only in B&W kinescopes from 1965-1966), Dark Shadows (August 1967-April 1971 onwards, but unfortunately they stopped making kinescopes in Fall 1970), One Life to Live (existed episodes from 1968-1975), American Bandstand (September 1967-Fall 1977 existed episodes), All My Children (early existed episodes from 1970-71), and old newscasts of The ABC Evening News (existed newscasts from late 1960s-1976).

Bold indicates show still on today.

 

[4mr4Caster]

I am thrilled to hear that the pilot of AYBS is now available in color! That's how it originally aired, yet even the DVD has the episode in black and white. Hope they did a good job with it.

What's interesting is that you mentioned Dark Shadows being in color (and history agrees with you), yet I recall my mother watching episodes of it in 1969 or 1970 and it was in black and white. Few network shows were in black and white by then, which is why it was memorable. I also recall the creepy effect that video distortion created around candles and bright lights on that show (giving them a black halo).

Mom never wanted me to watch that show, which is probably why I'd make a point of stopping by the TV for a nice long look!!

 

[pqgeorge]

What's interesting is that you mentioned Dark Shadows being in color (and history agrees with you), yet I recall my mother watching episodes of it in 1969 or 1970 and it was in black and white. Few network shows were in black and white by then, which is why it was memorable. I also recall the creepy effect that video distortion created around candles and bright lights on that show (giving them a black halo).

Mom never wanted me to watch that show, which is probably why I'd make a point of stopping by the TV for a nice long look!!

Dark Shadows, originally broadcast in black and white during the first season (1966), switched to color in the summer of 1967. Some stations delayed the broadcast using black and white kinescope transcriptions. Some of the DS videotape episodes were accidentally erased at ABC as well but were saved with backup kinescope copies. But amazingly, all episodes are intact and available in DVD!

 

[Stanislav]

What's interesting is that you mentioned Dark Shadows being in color (and history agrees with you), yet I recall my mother watching episodes of it in 1969 or 1970 and it was in black and white. Few network shows were in black and white by then, which is why it was memorable. I also recall the creepy effect that video distortion created around candles and bright lights on that show (giving them a black halo).

Mom never wanted me to watch that show, which is probably why I'd make a point of stopping by the TV for a nice long look!!

Dark Shadows, originally broadcast in black and white during the first season (1966), switched to color in the summer of 1967. Some stations delayed the broadcast using black and white kinescope transcriptions. Some of the DS videotape episodes were accidentally erased at ABC as well but were saved with backup kinescope copies. But amazingly, all episodes are intact and available in DVD!

All but one, for which they mated publicity stills with a surviving audio track.

 

[chrish]

Are you being served? is such a fantastic show, I still enjoy it over and over.

 

[Mario500]

Dark Shadows, originally broadcast in black and white during the first season (1966), switched to color in the summer of 1967. Some stations delayed the broadcast using black and white kinescope transcriptions. Some of the DS videotape episodes were accidentally erased at ABC as well but were saved with backup kinescope copies. But amazingly, all episodes are intact and available in DVD!

Since new episodes of "Dark Shadows" were scheduled for broadcast every Monday through Friday during its original run with occasional pre-emptions, there were no seasons.